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Three Decades of Experience and closing, and door hardware. If there is a keypad for security, it would need to meet keypad requirements and you should install at least the compliant door hardware on all of your gates so as to make them easier to use.

Facility assessment

It also makes sense, particularly if you have not done it, or done it recently, to undertake an assessment of the entire facility. If you are not sure how to do it, put a boot cast on your foot or roam the facility in a wheelchair. You might be surprised at what you find. Alternatively, you can ask your insurance provider or a knowledgeable consultant to undertake a review.

Next is to create an accessibility plan for the entire facility (more than just the berthing areas). Identify the areas that are not in compliance and what is envisioned to bring them into compliance. A broad timetable is helpful, but not necessarily required. I recommend that it be combined with the operational and capital budgeting, which helps to set targets.

If renovations, reconfigurations or additions are contemplated, they can easily incorporate correcting at least some of the accessibility issues as part of the project.

Remember that the gangway exceptions from the regular ADA ramp rules are for gangways to floating pontoons only. Ramps on your upland and ramps to a fixed pier all need to meet the regular ramp guidelines. As a refresher, the biggest of those gangway exceptions are that you do not need to have level landings every 30 ft and you can exceed the ramp rule’s 1 ft vertical for every 12 ft horizontal maximum slope once you reach an 80 ft long gangway (for facilities with fewer than 25 berths, a 30 ft gangway is the maximum required length).

For facilities with multiple access points, the ADA rules allow grouping of access to ADA slips to one area with one access point, providing the ADA slips can accommodate the various sizes and types of boats able to be berthed at the total facility and offer comparable amenities. That means that one would only need one compliant entrance/gangway, which can make things simpler (and less expensive) at many facilities.

The actual boarding areas for boats, whether on fixed or floating pontoons or finger piers, must be at least 60 inches by 60 inches clear. If boarding is from finger piers, they are required to be a minimum of 5 ft wide.

Also remember that for your official minimum number of accessible berths, you need to have an established policy for how those are made available, typically including a cut-off date/time after which they can be made available to those without a qualifying disability.

In all things, keep in mind that there can be a fairly wide range of achieving accessibility, but facilities that make a sincere effort will always be regarded more highly than those who willfully ignore it.

The more accessible a facility is, the more inviting the facility is, not only for those with mobility issues, but to all customers, and this can easily lead to raising rates and a better bottom line. It can also help prevent nuisance lawsuits that almost always cost more than doing the right thing.

Finally, I need to make note of those organisations going above and beyond to make it possible for those with disabilities to get out on the water, such as Shake-A-Leg and Sail to Prevail in the US, and Sailability, with its many chapters in locations ranging from Australia to the UK and some 19 countries in between.

*Dan Natchez, CMP, is President of Daniel S. Natchez and Associates Inc, a leading international environmental waterfront design consulting company specialising in the design of marinas and marina resorts throughout the world. Your comments and enquiries are invited on Tel: +1 914 698 5678, by Fax: +1 914 698 7321, by E-mail: dan.n@ dsnainc.com or on his Website: www. dsnainc.com